The History of Jacoby Arts Center

Through 2008 and 2009, the Madison County Arts Council participated in an intensive branding and strategic planning session and made the decision to become known wholly as Jacoby Arts Center, dropping its previous moniker to reflect the larger geographical region we serve. However, our history as an arts organization began 30 years ago.

Formerly known as the Madison County Arts Council (MCAC), our organization was founded in 1981 with a defined service area at that time of Madison County, Illinois. During our early years of operation, then based in Edwardsville, a small group of volunteers ran our organization, completely funded by Illinois state grants.

Since 1990, our organization has been a regranting agency, partnering with the Illinois Arts Council to provide support to local artists and arts organizations with special support needs. Through this program each year, (Community Arts Access) a committee of volunteers reviews submitted applications solicited from a 17-county region, and makes a recommendation to the our board of directors for the awards. This year wrapped up our 21st year of providing financial support to arts organizations throughout the Illinois Arts Council’s designated Region F.

Now in its 14th year, ARTEAST (our annual studio and exhibits tour) became an official program of our organization in 2003. Over the past eight years, the 150+ participating artists who live/work in Madison County have reported well over 11,500 visits or “hits” to the 40+ participating sites. Patrons from the entire St. Louis Metropolitan area enjoy the annual tour. Volunteers donate over 1,700 hours; with local funders, businesses, and individuals providing over $10,000 in cash support and $40,000 in in-kind donations of goods and services.

For 10 years now, we have delivered the arts to children throughout our region through an ongoing collaborative effort with the City of Edwardsville and the Village of Godfrey. Our free children’s art activities known as Arts in the Park (supported this year by Alton Foundation) reach nearly 500 children each summer. Throughout the rest of the year, we continue to provide free arts activities for families at our Center (now on the third Saturday morning of each month and sponsored this year by the Alton Community Service League) known as ArtSplash.

In 2003, as evidence of our higher profile and demonstrated increased support of our organization’s efforts, the Jacoby Family of Alton approached us with the following offer: the donation of a 44,000-square-foot building in downtown Alton that had formerly housed the Jacoby Furniture Store. Our organization took possession of the building on April 15, 2004 and opened its doors to the public on September 18, 2004 as the Jacoby Arts Center.

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The History of Jacoby Arts Center

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